The Parker Solar Probe has just completed its 28th close pass by the Sun. It flew within 3.8 million miles of the Sun’s surface, matching its closest approach record. The spacecraft reached a top speed near 430,000 miles per hour, tying its fastest speed ever. This makes Parker the fastest human-made object in history.

The probe launched in 2018. Since then, it has been inching closer to the Sun to study its atmosphere. The heat shield protecting Parker faces temperatures around 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit during each flyby. Despite this, the spacecraft remains healthy. Its protective thermal blankets keep internal temperatures steady, showing the shield is holding up well.

Parker studies the solar wind and solar activity, tracking changes across the Sun’s 11-year cycle. It arrived near solar minimum and witnessed the peak of solar maximum in 2024. That period is marked by increased sunspots, solar flares, and coronal mass ejections. Parker is now observing the Sun as activity begins to wane again.

The data Parker collects helps us understand space weather. Solar storms can disrupt satellites, power grids, and even astronaut safety. By measuring these solar events up close, Parker improves forecasts and helps protect technology on Earth and in space.

Solar Power Surpasses Coal in the US

May 2026 marked a major milestone for clean energy. For the first time, solar power generated more electricity than coal in the United States. Solar accounted for 12.8% of the country’s electricity, while coal fell to 12.2%. This shift is historic. It shows how fast solar energy is growing.

Solar output hit a record 45.5 terawatt-hours in May, a 17% increase from the previous year. Coal’s output dropped by 11% compared to May 2025. Over the last five years, coal’s share in the energy mix has nearly halved, from nearly 20% to just over 12%. Meanwhile, solar more than doubled its share, rising from about 5% to nearly 13%.

Solar now ranks as the third-largest source of electricity in the US, behind natural gas and nuclear power. Analysts expect solar’s growth to continue as the country expands its solar panel manufacturing capacity. The largest solar factory in the US is close to full operation, boosting domestic production.

Other Highlights from Space and Science

On the International Space Station, astronauts captured stunning footage of the southern lights, or aurora australis. The colorful display danced below the station, a direct result of recent solar activity. These lights occur when charged particles from the Sun interact with Earth’s magnetic field.

Meanwhile, astronomers used the James Webb Space Telescope to measure the mass of a distant dormant black hole 10 billion light-years away. They combined JWST’s sharp images with gravitational lensing to weigh the black hole, providing new insights into how massive black holes formed early in the universe.

Back in our solar system, scientists studied a rare meteorite found in the Sahara Desert. It contains minerals that suggest a long-lost protoplanet once orbited the Sun. This early world may have been as large as the Moon or even Mars. Its fragments offer clues about how planets formed 4.5 billion years ago.

These discoveries, along with the Parker Solar Probe’s ongoing mission and the rise of solar power, highlight a time of exciting progress in space and energy research. We are learning more about our star, our cosmic neighborhood, and how to power our future sustainably.